Grateful for Pride

Today I marched with my family and Mormons Building Bridges in the Salt Lake City Pride parade. I’m feeling overwhelmingly thankful for my LGBTQ+ elders and community who carved a path for younger Millennials, like me. My life is significantly more authentic and fulfilling due to the barriers they breached. Challenging oppression isn’t easy, but I feel compelled and honored to be a part of it. My heart is filled with love, respect, and gratitude for my queer community.

I’m feeling overwhelmingly grateful for my Mormon queer community and Mormon heritage. I cannot deny that Mormons are a peculiar people. We are industrious, resourceful, motivated, organized, and creative. I certainly include many of my ex-Mormon and post-Mormon friends in that sentiment. Goodness is not limited by religious affiliation. Though we may have different paths, I am truly grateful for your friendship. I look forward to the day when all families will be invited to be sealed in LDS temples, all genders are included in religious rituals, and all children are welcomed into the waters of baptism.

I have Mormon peers who tell me it’s immoral to claim my bisexuality. I have LGBTQ+ peers who tell me it’s immoral to stay affiliated with Mormonism. I appreciate the concern, but I cannot reject being Mormon any more than I can reject being bisexual. I am authentically both, and I can only be me. I appreciate those who can accept me as I am—just a bisexual Mormon girl who wants to make the world a better place.

I don’t know what the future will look like, but it’s days like these, with Drew by my side, that I have hope for a more compassionate tomorrow.